Engorgement

[Latenighttv]

Hi everyone,

Please can you help? I had DS 1 5 days ago, my milk came in on day 2 and since then both breasts have been massively engorged to the point, I heard engorgement was meant to get better after 1/2 days but so far no improvement, I'm terrified of getting mastitis as my Mum had it and I remember how bad she was with it and also even more scared of getting an abcess as I know from a friends experience that you can become vvv ill with this. Feeding relieves the pressure but I am stressing over which boob to pick next in order to try and relieve all the lumpy areas. It is very painful to feed, not just on the nipple but within the breast tissue. It doesn't help that my son has tongue tie which I can't do anything about until Jan die to all the clinics in the area being shut. I have had my latch checked by at least 3 midwives and bf support workers and they say it is good however he does tend to slip down due to my huge boob and his tiny mouth. He hasn't lost very much of his birth weight and he is peeing and pooing well so he is getting the milk. Though he doesn't settle to his crib at all after feeding and I have to hold him which isn't helping my sleep!

Feel like my poor son is just a boob reduction device, can anyone say how long engorgement lasted for them as at the end of day 2 of engorgement there is no sign of improvement and I am scared this will never let up.

Thank you

[Topsy34]

Ouch! Engorgment isnt pleasant at all.

I would feed one side for as long as he can, then express off enough to make you comfortable. No equipment needed initially, just get a bowl, wash it and sterilise if you can. Hand express into the bowl and put the milk in storage bags, date and freeze, it might come in handy at a later date.

You might find you baby can accept cup feeding with the tongue tie, so feed as normal and then offer expressed milk in a egg cup

Good luck, it sounds like you are doing fab

[Topsy34]

With him slipping off, try getting him led on pillows so his head is directly in front of boob, or try rugby hold

We use a sleepyhead in ds2 crib, he sleeps soundly once in there. I feed to sleep then hold for a while then put him in

[CorBlimeyTrousers]

I found reverse pressure softening helpful with latch when I was engorged. Good luck you're doing great :)

kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/rev_pressure_soft_cotterman/

[Latenighttv]

Thank you for the advice, I've been told by some midwives it last 2 days and someone else said up to a week , it's already past 2 dates I m scared it won't ever let up, can anyone give me any ideas as to how long this will last??

[CorBlimeyTrousers]

I think it was a couple of days for me. Although it did come back when I dropped feeds. I always had a lot of milk. I know it's not fun but it really won't be forever.

[Latenighttv]

Thank you fingers crossed it relieves soon

[Latenighttv]

Ga now I have developed mastitis will these problems end??

[nearlyreadytopop]

Ah poor you. On the tt front and the mastitis. Regular painkillers will help.
I also second the reverse pressure softening.
Check out Kellymom for tips on reducing engorgement.
I found cabbage leaves stored in the fridge and tucked into my bra helped a lot.

[nearlyreadytopop]

And yes it will end. The mastitis will go, your supply will regulate, the tt will be snipped and it will be all good. You can do it

[Bounced]

Cabbage leaves and avoid warmth in your breasts (I had to doing wash in yepid water for a few weeks) and everything else kellymom says! And a decent sleep bra (bras4mums used to do a good one). It will get better!

[Latenighttv]

Ah thank you so much for the replies and votes of confidence. I ve been told to use warm compress to get the milk flowing and have been doing so religiously so far maybe that's why it isn't resolving. I ve got some cabbage, it's going into my bra as a type. Also not been wearing a bra at all due to the pain! Thanks so much.

[Twinwife]

latenight I could have written this myself (minus the mastitis -poor thing). DD is 10 days old so a little ahead of you. My boobs became much softer 1-2 days ago if that's any reassurance? Tongue tie here has needed referral to London as also no clinic here til late Jan.
I have found the exaggerated /flipped latch very helpful as well as pressing on my breast tissue whole feeding. I think this gas helped increase swallowing/milk transfer,

[Topsy34]

Gah! You poor thing, mastitis is crap

Rest up mama, you are doing fab x

[Latenighttv]

Thank you so much for this info, comforting to hear someone else is going through the same thing (though sorry youare) and nice to hear encouragement too. Going to clinic today to see what they say I ll post later to let you know

[Latenighttv]

8 days since birth and I think the engorgement may be subsiding. Little one had his tongue tie sniped but not much of a difference yet but this may take up to 48 hours. He's still very unsettled and last night we couldn't satisfy him with the feeds which resulted in continuous screaming and get him to sleep but each night is a new night so hopefully tonight will be better.

[nearlyreadytopop]

Excellent news that the tie is snipped.
The exaggerated latch that's mentioned above is good for getting a good latch. I also found laid back breastfeeding position good.

[nearlyreadytopop]

Just to add if you are engorged you have lots of milk. You mention that baby didn't settle after feeding last night. My little one hated my fast let down (even with a tt snip he just couldn't cope) and would fuss and cry and refuse to go back on even when hungry. Once I worked out what was happening I would take him off and catch the milk in a muslin. Once that settled he would feed away until filled.
Can you have a look for la leche league meeting in your area. Some one to one help would be really beneficial

[Latenighttv]

Thanks for the extra information. The engorgement seems to be very much subsided I would say back to normal touch wood. He keeps falling asleep even at the start of the feed so I don't think that the let down is the problem in this case thanks. I m definately going to look up some support groups, the only problem being the festive period means most aren't on, though people are still having babies!!

[Bounced]

Glad it's better. I don't know why warmth is so often recommended for engorgement - for me, at least, it made it so much worse.

I'd also strongly recommend LLL. I found NCT patchy on bfing but LLL consistently knowledgeable. They are a bit crunchy (I'd never seen nappy free babies / toddlers before) but not all of them and they were genuinely kind and helpful and not at all judgemental.

[Latenighttv]

Ho hum I thought engorgement was sorted, now as he sleeps for longer my breasts have started to get lumpy and sore again bringing back the fear of more mastitis. Has anyone else experienced this and hire did they sort it thanks

[Bounced]

Yes! Your breasts adjust as they feed less, but the whole baby sleeps through for the first time but your breasts wake you up thing is a pain.

Kellymom.com has good advice on this, as ever - in some circumstances block feeding can help, also trying to reduce nipple stimulation (non nutritive sucking) and maybe cabbage leaves again.

[Latenighttv]

Thanks I was hoping to express for work in future but if I do so is it likely I ll upset the whole supply and demand thing and encounter problems with engorgement again

[Bounced]

I didn't, but I found I had to treat pumping as a feed (same time each day) to get a decent amount. As long as I didn't miss that feed it was fine, and then after about 8 months it was fine whatever I did.